LONDON and CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Jun 28, 2012) - The Options Industry Council (OIC) and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) have signed a content sharing agreement making OIC's renowned equity options educational materials available to CISI's global membership.

OIC has been educating investors and financial advisors in the responsible use of exchange-listed options for 20 years. To ensure investors understand both the benefits and risks of options, OIC provides education on strategies from basic to advanced, and on specific topics such as volatility and options on Exchange-Trade Funds. The agreement allows CISI to provide its members access to the full suite of OIC print and digital material.

CISI is the largest and most widely respected professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK and in a growing number of major financial centers around the world. Like OIC, CISI was founded in 1992. It now has more than 40,000 members in 89 countries. A key objective for CISI is to promote, for the public benefit, the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of securities and investments.

"We are very pleased to be able to work with CISI, an organization which shares our mission and goal of educating market participants," said Gina McFadden, OIC President. "While we have worked with many exchanges around the world, this is OIC's first agreement with an international professional education organization."

Simon Culhane, Chartered FCSI, Chief Executive of the CISI, added: "With our rapidly-growing global membership base, we are delighted to have come to this arrangement with the OIC. It will enable our members wherever they are based to keep up to speed with current traded options developments, and to hone their skills for their clients' and firms' benefit. And it will help them pass our globally-recognised exams across the securities and derivatives fields. It is a welcome part of our campaign to 'make geography history' through the nimble use of technology."

About the Chartered Institute for Securities & InvestmentThe CISI's mission is to help members attain, maintain and develop their knowledge and skills and to promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the securities and investment industry.

Based in the City of London, the CISI is a global organisation with representative offices in financial centres such as Dublin, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai and Colombo. We work in close cooperation with regulators, firms and other professional bodies worldwide.

With its 40,000 worldwide membership, the CISI is the professional body which sets examinations and offers qualifications for those working, or looking to establish a career in, the securities and investment industry.

About OICOIC is an industry cooperative funded by BATS Options, BOX Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, C2 Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, NASDAQ Options Market, NYSE Amex Options, NYSE Arca Options and OCC. OIC was formed in 1992 to educate investors and their financial advisors about the benefits and risks of exchange-traded equity options. OIC's resources include: Investor Services live help at 1-888-OPTIONS, its educational website at www.OptionsEducation.org, live seminars throughout the continental United States and Canada, and educational literature.